Football team swaps names for messages on shirts BBC

Swedish women's football team swaps names for inspirational messages on shirts

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The names are gone off the shirts of the Sweden women's football team.

They've been replaced with messages which, the team hopes, will inspire young women to play sport.

The players were asked to pick tweets from prominent Swedish women ahead of annual women football's tournament the Algarve Cup.

The Swedish Football Association is doing it "in the hope it will inspire young women to believe more in themselves.

It went on to say, "that they can achieve anything they want to, just like the national team players have."

Sweden's women finished second to Germany in the final of the Rio Olympics last year.

One of the messages is from singer Zara Larsson saying "Believe in your damn self".

Another shirt inspired by broadcaster Agnes Lo says "I am playing for my girls in Iran."

It's worn by 23-year-old defender Magdalena Erikson who tweeted:

"I have chosen to highlight a quote from @agnes_lo_ because I play football for all those who can not."

Another shirt says simply "I'm not bossy, I'm the boss".

Midfielder Olivia Schough has the message "Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about."

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Be kind. Always. Annars är du en DRITTSEKK!!! #IDittNamn#Adidas #SweWNT

9:56 PM - 28 Feb 2017

The Swedish FA have done the campaign with kit sponsor Adidas using the hashtag #InYourName.

The football jerseys go on sale on March 8th, which is also International Women's Day.

10% of the cash made from the shirts will go to a Swedish group that supports young female athletes.

It's been a busy year for the players.

The team were called "a bunch of cowards" for their tactics at the Olympics by US goalkeeper Hope Solo, who was later given a six-month ban for the comments.

The shirts are being worn for the first time at the Algarve Cup, an annual competition of the twelve best female teams in the world, held in Portugal.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/39138348/swedish-womens-football-team-swaps-names-for-inspirational-messages-on-shirts